Three Plays by Granville-Barker. Granville-Barker Harley
equal cheerfulness.] That's good.
ann. And he said we should be seeing more of you.
lord john. Here I am. I love you, Ann. [He goes on his knees.]
ann. D'you want to marry me?
lord john. Yes.
ann. Thank you very much; it'll be very convenient for us all. Won't you get up?
lord john. At your feet.
ann. I like it.
lord john. Give me your hand.
ann. No.
lord john. You're beautiful.
ann. I don't think so. You don't think so.
lord john. I do think so.
ann. I should like to say I don't love you.
lord john. Last night you kissed me.
ann. Do get up, please.
lord john. As you wish.
Now he sits by her.
ann. Last night you were nobody in particular … to me.
lord john. I love you.
ann. Please don't; I can't think clearly.
lord john. Look at me.
ann. I'm sure I don't love you because you're making me feel very uncomfortable and that wouldn't be so.
lord john. Then we'll think.
ann. Papa … perhaps you'd rather not talk about Papa.
lord john. Give yourself to me.
ann. [Drawing away from him.] Four words! There ought to be more in such a sentence … it's ridiculous. I want a year to think about its meaning. Don't speak.
lord john. Papa joins our party.
ann. That's what we're after … thank you.
lord john. I loathe politics.
ann. Tell me something against them.
lord john. In my opinion your father's not a much bigger blackguard—I beg your pardon—than the rest of us.
ann. … Miserable sinners.
lord john. Your father turns his coat. Well … ?
ann. I see nothing at all in that.
lord john. What's right and what's wrong?
ann. Papa's right … for the present. When shall we be married?
lord john. Tomorrow?
ann. [Startled.] If you knew that it isn't easy for me to be practical you wouldn't make fun.
lord john. Why not tomorrow?
ann. Papa—
lord john. Papa says yes . . suppose.
ann. I'm very young . . not to speak of clothes. I must have lots of new dresses.
lord john. Ask me for them.
ann. Why do you want to marry me?
lord john. I love you.
ann. It suddenly occurs to me that sounds unpleasant.
lord john. I love you.
ann. Out of place.
lord john. I love you.
ann. What if Papa were to die?
lord john. I want you.
ann. I'm nothing . . I'm nobody . . I'm part of my family.
lord john. I want you.
ann. Won't you please forget last night?
lord john. I want you. Look straight at me.
She looks, and stays fascinated.
lord john. If I say now that I love you—
ann. I know it.
lord john. And love me?
ann. I suppose so.
lord john. Make sure.
ann. But I hate you too . . I know that.
lord john. Shall I kiss you?
ann. [Helplessly.] Yes.
He kisses her full on the lips.
ann. I can't hate you enough.
lord john. [Triumphantly.] Speak the truth now.
ann. I feel very degraded.
lord john. Nonsense.
ann. [Wretchedly.] This is one of the things which don't matter.
lord john. Ain't you to be mine?
ann. You want the right to behave like that as well as the power.
lord john. You shall command me.
ann. [With a poor laugh.] I rather like this in a way.
lord john. Little coquette!
ann. It does tickle my vanity.
For a moment he sits looking at her, then shakes himself to his feet.
lord john. Now I must go.
ann. Yes . . I want to think.
lord john. For Heaven's sake . . no!
ann. I came this morning straight to where we were last night.
lord john. As I hung about the garden my heart was beating.
ann. I shall like you better when you're not here.
lord john. We're to meet in Brighton?
ann. I'm afraid so.
lord john. Good-bye.
ann. There's just a silly sort of attraction between certain people, I believe.
lord john. Can you look me in the eyes and say you don't love me?
ann. If I looked you in the eyes you'd frighten me again. I can say anything.
lord john. You're a deep child.
george leete appears on the terrace.
george. My lord!
lord john. [Cordially.] My dear Leete.
george. No . . I am not surprised to see you.
ann. George, things are happening.
lord john. Shake hands.
george. I will not.
ann. Lord John asks me to be married to him. Shake hands.
george. Why did you fight?
ann. Why did you fight?
lord john. [Shrugging.] Your father struck me.
ann. Now you've hurt him . . that's fair.
Then the two men do shake hands, not heartily.
george. We've trapped you, my lord.
lord john. I know what I want. I love your sister.
ann. I don't like you . . but if you're good and I'm good we shall get on.
george. Why shouldn't one marry politically?
lord john. [In ann's ear.] I love you.
ann. No . . no . . no . . no . . no . . [Discovering in this an echo of her father, she stops short.]
george. We're a cold-blooded family.
lord john. I don't think so.
george.